Top Manta Private Sightseeing Tours

Get up close and personal with the fishermen, boat builders and hat makers of Manta, and enjoy a wildlife spotting trip to Pacoche Humid Forest, during this private 7-hour excursion. Learn about Manta’s fishing industry during a tour of the city fish market, then observe boat builders as they fashion and repair local fishing vessels. Also, get to explore the Pacoche Humid Forest, spotting for its resident howler monkeys, and learn about Ecuador’s famous Montecristi hat in the haberdashery shops of Ciudad Alfaro. This Manta excursion also includes a private guide, snacks and entrance fees.

This tour differs because it combines nature, beach and local food in a quiet and well organized experience near Manta, ideal for families, couples and travelers who want to know Pacoche without a demanding hike. During the tour, travelers will walk through the humid tropical forest of the Pacoche Wildlife Refuge, with the possibility of observing howler monkeys, birds and native vegetation in its natural environment. Then we will visit San Lorenzo Beach, where you can walk, rest, take photos and bathe if the sea conditions allow, always following the safety recommendations of the guide. The experience ends in a seafront restaurant, where each traveler can choose their favorite dish and enjoy local marine flavors in a coastal atmosphere. It is a small group tour, with personalized attention, transportation included, local guide and a relaxed pace to enjoy nature and the coast of Manabi without hurry.

Sample the artisanal food producers of Manta during this 6-hour exploration of the city’s chocolate and craft beer industries. Check out the plantations and growing facilities for Creole Cocoa and Rio Chico, learning about their cultivation of cacao beans and the chocolate making process. You’ll also get to visit nearby plantations of oranges, lemons and coconuts before heading to a local craft brewery for a tasting. This food-focused trip also includes a lunch of typical local cuisine, entrance fees and round-trip hotel transport.

Manta is not just a port. It is markets that smell of the sea before dawn, the connection with artisans who hand-knit one of the finest hats in the world and streets where the history of Manabi is still alive. This tour takes you to that real Manta, without filters, without mass groups, without rush. We start at the fishery market, where tuna arrive fresh every morning and fishermen work the same as decades ago. Then we travel to Montecristi, birthplace of the real straw toquilla hat, misnamed "Panama Hat", to meet artisans who still hand-knit it and understand why it has a UNESCO designation of origin. The group is maximum 4 people. The pace is up to you, the conversations are real and your guide is there for you, not to manage a line. Ideal for independent travelers, couples and small families who prefer depth over quantity.

Make the most of your time at shore and explore the Manta region on this half-day shore excursion. Join a small group and visit the Pacoche Wildlife Refuge and San Lorenzo Beach to observe local wildlife. Then, visit a local museum to learn about the tradition of Panama hatmaking before ending with a walk through a local fisherman’s village.